Silver Coin 3 Oz Heritage of the Pharaohs Ultra High Relief 2022 Antique Standard

Legacy of the Pharaohs - Ultra High Relief - 3 oz

A unique silver coin issued by the State of Cook Islands for 2022 weighing 3 Oz (93.3 g) of the purest 99.9% silver with an Antique Standard finish is struck in ultra high relief on both sides of the coin. The coin's design uses an attractive theme from Egyptian history and pays visual tribute to the cultural heritage of the pharaohs.

The reverse side of the coin depicts three important Egyptian pharaohs. The images of Thutmose III, Akhenaten and Sebeknofr are based on surviving artefacts. Above them are linked inscriptions with the name of the coin "LAGACY OF THE PHARAOHS" and with fragments of hieroglyphs from the stele of Ankh-ef-en-Khons, which is part of the collections of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
In the centre is Thutmose III (1479 - 1425 BC). The 18th dynasty pharaoh ascended the throne at a boyish age and initially ruled with his stepmother and queen dowager Hatshepsut. Thutmose III, using his military and strategic skills, conquered the most extensive territory ever for Egypt, securing his immortal fame. After his death, he was buried in the Valley of the Kings. The mummy of Thutmose III is now housed in a museum in Cairo.
The prominent face on the left represents Akhenaten(1353 - 1336 BC) of the 18th royal dynasty. Born Amenophis, he acquired the name Amenhotep IV with his accession to the throne. The chief wife of Amenhotep IV was the famous Queen Nefertiti and the son was Tutankhamun. Influenced by the priests, he introduced a revolutionary religious reform and ordered the worship of a single god, Aten. He also changed his name to Akhenaten after the sun god. Akhenaten's reign also saw a major change in the style of depicting scenes and people in sculpture and painting. After his death, he left Egypt disrupted and in chaos. Only fragments of Akhenaten's tomb survive.
Sebeknophra (1763 - 1760 BC), the first female pharaoh in the history of ancient Egypt, occupies the place on the right. She ascended the throne after the death of her husband, who was probably also her brother. The 12th Dynasty pharaoh was a full-fledged ruler of Egypt. She differed from other ancient Egyptian pharaohs in that she allowed herself to be portrayed in clothing and with curves that showed her femininity. The Sarcophagus of Sebeknophra has never been discovered. It is thought that it may have been located in a ruined pyramid at the archaeological site of Mazghuna.

A near-3D bird's-eye model of the Giza necropolis is superimposed on the obverse of the coin. The great pyramids rise in ultra-high relief thanks to the capabilities of Smartminting technology. The precision workmanship is evident in the many details, including the sphinx statue. Included is a coin portrait of Elizabeth II with the inscriptions "ELIZABETH II", "COOK ISLANDS", the face value "20 DOLLARS" and the year of issue "2022".

The coin is supplied in a presentation frame along with a certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of only 2022 pieces for the whole world!

Smartminting® is a revolutionary technology in the field of modern numismatics. The greatest advantage is the dramatic and unsurpassed heights of relief combined with intricate detail. High and ultra-high relief is possible on both sides of the coin, and the top of the relief can be placed as close to the edge as possible. However, the conventional embossing process not only requires more material (higher weight), but more importantly, the highest point must be concentrated in the center of the coin, which does not reach the same height as with Smartminting® technology. Another bonus of Smartminting® technology is the possibility of minting even in the highest Proof quality for coloured coins and, of course, the Antique Standard finish remains.